Valved hose coupling



April 10, 1951 F. E. HANSEN 2,548,528

VALVED HOSE COUPLING Filed Aug. 31, 1948 JNVENToR. F

April 10, 1951 D. c. HARVEY 2,548,529

CAMERA PART LATCHTNC ANDCUIDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 29,' 1948 DoUGLAss c .HARVEY INVENTOR ATTORAEY'T Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE VALVED HOSE 'COUPLING Fred E. Hansen, Lakewood, Ohio l i Application August 31, 1948, Serial No. 46,954

This invention relates to improvements in valved hose couplings, more particularly couplings for fluid lines operating underpressures other than atmospheric pressure and embodying valve means acting automatically to close the line on one or both sides of the coupling when the coupling is broken and to open the line on one or both sides when the coupling is made.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a coupling of the character stated which shall interpose a minimum of interference with the now of fluid therethrough.

Another object is the provision of a coupling of the type indicated which shall be simple and economical from the standpoints of manufacture and assembly.

Still another `object is the provision of such a coupling, the members of which may be connected or disconnected quickly and easily.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional View of a Acoupling in operative or connected condition.

Fig. 2' is a longitudinal central sectional view of the female member of the coupling.

Fig. 3 is a similar View of the male member, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring rst to Fig. .2 of the drawing, the body portion of the female member of the coupling is shown at Ill. It maybe provided with threads I I or other suitable means for attachment to a hose or other fluid conductor. Within the body member there is a smooth bore I2 which at its forward end merges with a frustoconical valve seat I3. On the opposite or for- Ward side of this valve seat there is a chamber I4 which is considerably larger in diameter than 2 Claims. (Cl. 284-19) the bore I2 and is adapted to receive the foroperative or connected position, as indicated in i Fig. 1. Y

Surrounding and slidable upon the exterior surface of body member I0 there is a sleeve 2| which has an inwardly projecting annular surlface 22 that serves to engage the balls I8 and lock them in the groove 20 when the coupling is connected. 23 is an annular rabbet or recess. A split ring 24 mounted in a groove in body member IG prevents sleeve 2l from moving to the right beyond the position illustrated in the drawing. The sleeve is normally held in engagement with split ring 24 by a coil spring 2-5 which bears against a shoulder on the body portion I0 and a shoulder on the sleeve 2|. When the sleeve is drawn to the left against the action of spring 25 recess 23v may be brought into line with the balls I8, when theY balls may be cammed outwardly.

Coupling member I5 is provided with an 'annular bevel 2l and an annular land 2t. Therforward side of groove 20 is also beveled as shown at 29. Opening into the chamberV I4 of the body member II! thereisV an annular recess or groove 3U in which is mounted a soft rubber ring gasket 3I which is adapted to ride upon the smooth forward portion 32 of member I5 when the two members are brought intoconnecting position, thereby sealing the joint between the members.

When the members are to be connected together the operator retracts sleeve 2I against the action of spring 25 and inserts member I5 into the chamber I4. During this operation the bevel surface 21 cams the balls I8 outwardly onto the land 28, and then groove 2i! is brought into line with the balls after which the operator releases sleeve 2I and spring 25 forces it to the illustrated position where the surface 22y prevents the balls from leaving the groove 20, and the two coupling members are thereby locked together.

In the illustrated embodiment both of the coupling members are provided with valves which close when the coupling is broken and which engage each other to open up a passage through the coupling when the members thereofare brought into operative relation; The invention" in its broader aspects however contemplates the use of a single such valve in one only of the coupling members. As these valves and their mounting are of identical form, a description of one only will suiiice.

4I) is a split spring ring which is adapted to be set into a groove 4I in a coupling member. This split ring preferably has inwardly bent ends 42,-

Fig. 4, to facilitate its removal in the event that the Valve needs replacement. Ring 43 projects into bore I2 a sufficient distance to form an abutment for the arms of a spider 43 which sets loosely within bore i2. From the central part of this spider a mandrel 44 projects forwardly. Preferably spider 43 and mandrel 44 are cast integral, but they may be formed separately if desired. Spider 43 forms the sole support for the mandrel, and accordingly I term the latter a cantilever mandrel. It has a reduced forward extremity 45 forming a pilot for a coil spring 49 which is interposed between the mandrel and a valve piece 47. In the illustrated embodiment this valve piece is hollow and has a skirt portion which surrounds and is slidable upon the mandrel 44, the coil spring 46 being contained Within the cylindrical bore 48 of the valve piece and tending to press the latter forward toward the valve seat I3. The forward extremity 49 of the valve piece is formed as a frustum of a cone. At the base end of the cone an annular groove is cut in the valve piece in which is mounted a soft rubber ring 50. This ring is vulcanized to the valve piece, Vulcanization being the only procedure that I have `found to be satisfactory for securing the ring against being torn loose where high pressure fluids are being handled.

Operation-The method of using the coupling of the present invention will be obvious for the most part to persons skilled in Vthe art. When the two members of the coupling are to be conm nected together the operator takes the female member I9 in one hand and with the iingers and thumb of that hand draws the sleeve 2l back against the action of spring 25. He then inserts the male member i5 into the chamber I4 until the bevel 2 engages the balls I8. Thereafter he may release the sleeve 2i, whereupon the spring 25 will cause the recess 23 to bear against the balls and hold them against the bevels 21. Next the two coupling members are forced together, causing the ends 49 of the valve pieces to engage each other and then to compress springs 46. As soon as the two coupling members are forced together to the extent that the valve pieces have assumed the position of Fig. 1, leaving clear and unobstructed annular passages between the valve pieces and their seats,

the balls I8 will drop into the groove 29 and the spring 25 will snap the sleeve 2l into locking posi tion as shown in Fig. l. It may be noted that the springs 46 have the double function of urging the Valve pieces forward toward their seats and i pressing the spiders 43 rearwardly against the snap rings 40. y

The illustrated construction, embodying the cantilever mounting of both valve pieces is an important feature of the invention. A given radial distance separating the valve pieces from the inner walls of the coupling members provides greater cross-sectional passage area than the same distance near the center would do. Hence the cantilever mounting of the valve pieces, leaving an unobstructed annular passage inside the coupling walls, is an improvement over constructions in which a valve piece or valve pieces have slide bearing Within those walls.

When the coupling is to be disconnected the operator draws sleeve 2| back against the action of spring 25 whereupon the valve springs 46 acting together initiate the separation of the coupling members and cause the balls I8 to ride up the bevel surface 29 onto the land 28, after which a light pull will complete the movement of separation. Y

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a valved coupling for fluid lines, a coupling member, a frusto-conical valve seat in said member, a spider mounted in said member spaced rearwardly from said seat, a cantilever mandrel centrally carried by said spider projecting forwardly towardlsaid seat, a valve piece having a sleeve portion slidably mounted on said mandrel, said sleeve portion being spaced inwardly from the internal wall ofY said member, a coil spring disposed within the sleeve bearing atrits rear end against said mandrel and at its forward end against said valve piece, the inner surface of said sleeve and the outer surface of said mandrel being of substantially the same diameter as the over-all diameter of said spring, whereby the inner surface of said sleeve functions as a guide for said spring as well as a slide guide for said valve piece.

2. In a valved coupling for fluid lines, a coupling member, a truste-conical valve seat in said member, a hollow valve piece adapted to engage said seat, a spider mounted in said member spaced rearwardly from said seat, a cantilever mandrel centrally carried by said spider projecting forwardly toward said seat, said mandrel having a body portion and a reduced forward portion, a coil spring surrounding the reduced end of said mandrel and interposed between the body portion thereof and said valve piece for pressing the latter toward its seat, said valve piece having a sleeve portion slidable on the body portion of said mandrel and on the external surfaces of said coil spring, the interengaging sui'- faces of said sleeve and the body portion of .the mandrel being of substantially the same diameter as the over-all diameter of said spring.

FRED E. HANSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

